Become a Pro at Road Tripping With The Kids

Leaving town with your family can be an experience, to
say the least. With the right tricks up your sleeve, it’s easier to eliminate
the stress and focus on having fun. This guide will help simplify the logistics
behind road tripping with the kids and show you a few gadgets along the way.

Helpful Apps and Gadgets

There are tons of resources online to help your trip
run smoothly. Use Google Maps to find the cheapest gas without taking a detour
(GasBuddy works better for diesel). When you’re not searching in maps, use the offline setting to save data. You can also
find free Wi-Fi nearby with this map.

Save money on fun things to do at virtually any
destination you travel to with Groupon’s city-specific pages. I went to New
York last weekend and we used the Things To Do In
Rochester page, I didn’t eat a meal that wasn’t at least 50 percent off. Better
yet, I was able to buy ticket bundles for museums and the aquarium for a
quarter the original cost.

Another resourceful app is SitOrSquat, th­­e restroom
finder. It can help you search for clean restrooms along your route to keep the
kiddos germ-free! Don’t make the mistake of not having enough charging ports.
Keep everyone happy with a 5-port adapter for less than 15 bucks, ensuring
everyone stays happily charged.

DIY Ideas

These
DIY ideas are easy to do, and they’re time-efficient too:

➔Trash bin:

Line a plastic cereal container with a trash bag and
you have a smell-proof, spill-proof trashcan that can be passed around the car.

➔Deluxe snack container:

Try using a tackle box as a lunchbox. You’ll end up
with less trash, and a larger variety of snacks to keep your little one
entertained. You can also try using empty coffee creamer containers to hold
snacks without spilling or going stale.

➔Seatbelt pillow:

As much fun as it is bunching and re-bunching your
pillow to find a comfortable placement, maybe a seatbelt pillow would work better. You’ll
need a few Velcro strips, some fleece material, stuffing and a needle/thread to
sew it all up.

➔Family photo puzzles:

Use family pictures and popsicle sticks to make puzzles. It’s entertaining, and a
fun way to tell family stories. Stick magnets to the popsicle sticks and keep
them from scattering across the car. Then, stick them to the fridge at home as
a reminder of your trip!

➔Seatback pocket 2.0:

Upgrade your seatback pocket to an entertainment
center. Hang a toiletry kit or a closet organizer over the back of your seat
and fill it with books, crafts, an iPad for movies, wipes, stuffed animals,
snacks, etc. You can buy organizer designed specifically for the car, but I’ve
found other organizers have more, and bigger, pouches.

➔Map:

We
all love the infamous line, “Are we there yet?” Give yourself a little peace,
and teach your kids to read a map, by creating one for their seatback pocket.
Make note of landmarks to keep them tuned in along the way. You can also leave
notes saying things like two more hours
left!

If you are
the crafty type, check out Pinterest and you’ll find dozens of more complex DIY
ideas.

Make practical use of space

I am a firm believer in the bin system for your car.
Not only will you save space, but we are talking next level organization. It’s
almost impossible to keep everything where it belongs when you’re living out of
the car, especially with a family. Use varying sized plastic bins pack the
trunk. If you’re still tight on space, buy a mesh bungie cord net and strap it
to the safety handles on the ceiling for extra space. Fill it with your lighter
stuff so it doesn’t hang too low.

Packing efficiently is important, but so is leaving
room for your legs to sprawl out. This can be trickier for the back seat,
especially while the kids are still in boosters. Try out a mifold. The booster seat
that’s guaranteed 10 times smaller, and still safer. The convenience of it will
blow your mind. Not only will you give the kids more space in the back seat but
think about how often you’re carting around the car seat you have now. Plane
rides and ubers will forever be simplified.

Learning to adventure with the kids is
easier than you’d think. Don’t let the intimidation of planning stop you. Make
habits out of these tricks and you’ll find yourself walking out the door
feeling confident with hardly any preparation at all.

*Disclaimer: This is a guest post and does not necessarily reflect the opinions & views of Talk About Cebu as a whole.

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